Time Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth
Encyclopedia
Time Cat is a novel by Lloyd Alexander
.
While writing it, Alexander became interested in Welsh Mythology
, which inspired the The Chronicles of Prydain
, his most popular work. Alexander originally intended to include a Welsh episode, but decided to save those ideas for another work, and substituted the episode that took place in Ireland instead.
Jason learns that his cat, Gareth, is not only able to talk, but also has the power to travel to nine different points in history around the world. Jason convinces Gareth to take him along, and their adventures begin in Ancient Egypt
in the year 2700 B.C.
The pair subsequently travels to Rome
and Britain (55 B.C.), Ireland
(A.D. 411), Japan
(A.D. 998), Italy
(1468), Peru
(1555), the Isle of Man
(1588), Germany
(1600), and America
(1775).
Once they return home, Gareth says he will never again allow himself to speak, and he forbids Jason ever to speak of their travels to anyone. It is not a difficult ban for Jason to obey, as he is not convinced anyone would believe his story if he did tell it. However, he has a necklace shaped like an ankh to remember his journey and Jason also discovers how to communicate with Gareth without talking.
Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Chudley Alexander was a widely influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books...
.
While writing it, Alexander became interested in Welsh Mythology
Welsh mythology
Welsh mythology, the remnants of the mythology of the pre-Christian Britons, has come down to us in much altered form in medieval Welsh manuscripts such as the Red Book of Hergest, the White Book of Rhydderch, the Book of Aneirin and the Book of Taliesin....
, which inspired the The Chronicles of Prydain
The Chronicles of Prydain
The Chronicles of Prydain is a five-volume series of children's fantasy novels by author Lloyd Alexander...
, his most popular work. Alexander originally intended to include a Welsh episode, but decided to save those ideas for another work, and substituted the episode that took place in Ireland instead.
Plot summary
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
in the year 2700 B.C.
The pair subsequently travels to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Britain (55 B.C.), Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(A.D. 411), Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(A.D. 998), Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(1468), Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
(1555), the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
(1588), Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(1600), and America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1775).
Once they return home, Gareth says he will never again allow himself to speak, and he forbids Jason ever to speak of their travels to anyone. It is not a difficult ban for Jason to obey, as he is not convinced anyone would believe his story if he did tell it. However, he has a necklace shaped like an ankh to remember his journey and Jason also discovers how to communicate with Gareth without talking.